Abstract
D.Litt.et Phil.
The world in which the Christian community finds themselves today, is a world that
has in many ways spiritually lost its way. This has led to the ethical and moral
decay that has as a result, social problems, as well as social and political
corruption. The Church is also experiencing a crisis. The Church, until recently was
the centre of many people‟s existence, but now increasingly people are removed
from the church and churchless. Is there an antidote to counteract this assault on
the Christian faith? As per the argument in this dissertation, the answer lies in the
lifestyle of the faithful, according to their confession. A way of life that confirms and
not renounces the Biblical truths is the only way in which the Church‟s credibility
can be restored in a post modern milieu. It is also one of the most important ways
in which the decay in society can be counteracted; a Church that can yet again, as
a bride of Christ perform her missiological duty as the salt and light of the world.
This conclusion has forced the relevance of this research to the forefront. Paul
describes the Corinthians as the holy temple of God in which the Holy Spirit resides
(1 Cor 3:16-17). Two questions immediately arise: what relevance does this
metaphor have on a Christian lifestyle and can a metaphor, applied 2000 years ago
to the Christians in Corinthians, have any hermeneutical value, today? Can it serve
as an ethical core moment in the post-modern time in which we find ourselves?
These are some of the questions addressed in this research.
The temple motif is a central theme found throughout the Bible. This is born
through God‟s desire to live amidst his people. He instructs Moses to build a tent
tabernacle, so that He “can live in their midst” (Ex 25:8). This tabernacle moved
with the Israelites, everywhere they went. This was the place where God revealed
his special presence, where daily offerings were made as atonement for the
people‟s sins and where, once a year on the Great Day of Reconciliation the high
priest went into the Most Holy to atone for the sins of the people as well as his own.
Everything in and around the tabernacle was characterized by holiness.